ACC Athletes Join Anderson Middle Schools for Health Program

Seven local middle school groups and four ACC athletes have been selected to participate in the United Way Healthy Teens program.  The Healthy Teens program is a health and wellness literacy program that aims to inspire middle school students to build a better quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities.  The program is a collaboration between United Way Worldwide, the USA TODAY Charitable Foundation, and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). 

Under the facilitation of United Way of Anderson County’s focus of health, the Eat Smart Move More coalition is coordinating the program.

ACC student-athletes from Clemson University will act as key influential role models as they are matched with the middle school groups to mentor and deliver this interactive curriculum to the students. These student-athletes include: Jessica Doolittle - Diving, Erica Kim - Women’s Soccer, Ara Amirkhanian - Men’s Soccer, and Hailey Karg - Women’s Soccer.  Clemson ACC athletes are dedicated to serving the community needs.  “As athletes at Clemson, we find it very important to give back to our community in any way we can.  As a Health Sciences Major, Healthy Teens is a great opportunity for me to gain experience working with the community to raise awareness about healthy choices and lifestyles”, said athlete Jessica Doolittle.

Participating sites and schools include: Riverside Middle’s “Ladies First” and “Man Up” programs, La France Elementary School, Belton Middle School, Anderson Area YMCA, Starr-Iva Middle School, and Robert Anderson College and Career Academy.

 Jeff Burke, Assistant Principal at Riverside Middle School believes the Healthy Teens program is a great addition to Riverside Middle’s pre-existing “Man Up” program.  “Our Man Up program is designed for our male faculty members to mentor our eight grade male students.  The Healthy Teens program will be a welcome resource for our group.  We hope that through this program our students will gain the understanding of how important a healthy diet and exercise is to their well-being”, said Burke. 

The participating students will be exposed to current, real-world information about healthy living from USA TODAY.  The teens will then be asked to consider their own health, as well as their community’s health, and implement a service project that will improve the health and wellness of their community.  At the end of the program, one site will be chosen based on program impact and sustainability to receive a $1,000 prize. 

Eat Smart Move More of Anderson County focuses on improving local access to healthy eating and active living opportunities by partnering with various organizations and individuals in the community. Eat Smart Move More Anderson County’s overall goal is to make the healthy choice the easy choice in Anderson County. 

Duck Dynasty Endorsement Gives Candidate Surprise Win

A political candidate endorsed by a member of the "Duck Dynasty" family has upset his establishment opponent in a special election held in Louisiana.

Vance McAllister, a businessman who received an endorsement from Willie Robertson not long before the vote, was victorious against La. State Senator Neil Riser this past weekend.

In the special runoff election held for the vacated Fifth Congressional District seat of Louisiana, McAllister defeated Riser with 59.7 percent of the vote versus Riser's 40.3 percent, reported Politico.

Riser had strong support from Republican establishment figures at the state and federal level and was expected to win the race, Politico's Alex Isenstadt noted.

"McAllister, a political newcomer, led Riser, a state senator who had won the support of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and much of the state's GOP congressional delegation," wrote Isenstadt.

"I would like to thank everyone for your support and prayers! I am grateful to each and every one of you who made our victory possible. Together we will make a change in Washington," reads an entry on the McAllister campaign's Facebook page from Sunday.

McAllister's victory was very much an unforeseen event, as numbers from the October open primary gave Riser 32 percent of the vote versus McAllister's 18 percent.

However many are crediting the surprise finish to the race to a brief television plug that Willie Robertson made for the McAllister campaign after the primary.

Full Story Here 

S.C. Releases Scrooges and Angels Charities List

During the holiday season, and throughout the year, charities will be asking you to donate. But is your money going to the designated cause? 

South Carolina Secretary of State Mark Hammond has released the 18th annual Scrooges and Angels list. It includes 20 charities - 10 that have gone above and beyond in making sure their money is donated to their cause and 10 that are giving less than 40 percent of their donations. 

This year's Angels include:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia, Inc., Columbia, SC 85.6%
• Camp Pee Dee Pride, Florence, SC 96.6%
• Debi's Kids, Inc., Charleston, SC 90.3%
• Fort Mill Care Center, Inc., Fort Mill, SC 97.6%
• Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg, Inc., Spartanburg, SC 83.1%
• Hitchcock Woods Foundation, Aiken, SC 88.2%
• Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Parris Island, SC 88.3%
• Second Helpings, Hilton Head Island, SC 80.2%
• Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc., Palmetto, FL 84.6%
• Tamassee DAR School, Inc., Tamassee, SC 81.8%

Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg executive director Kitta Cates says the agency provides free dental care to children in Spartanburg between the ages of 4 and 18. They're able to put more than 83% of the money they get because they work "lean and mean" she says. "We have some great volunteers who work with us. The partnership that we have with the Spartanburg Community College takes care of a lot of the overhead we otherwise would have in our budget," she says.

To be selected as an Angel, the charity must have devoted 80 percent or more of its total expenditures to charitable programs. On the other hand, Scrooges keep more money than they give to a cause. This year's top offenders include:

• Army Historical Foundation Inc., Alexandria, VA 16.4%
• Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation, Inc., Aventura, FL 19.3%
• Feed Our Veterans, New Hartford, NY 25.6%
• Firefighters Charitable Foundation, Inc., Farmingdale, NY 7.0%
• Gaffney Elks Lodge BPOE #1305, Gaffney, SC 11.9%
• International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO, Sarasota, FL 16.8%
• Law Enforcement Officers Relief Fund, Sarasota, FL 0.9%
• Louis D. Simmons American Legion Post 215, Inc., Columbia, SC 3.2%
• Roger Wyburn-Mason & Jack M. Blount Foundation for the Eradication ofRheumatoid Disease, Fairview, TN 34.7%
• Walker Cancer Research Institute, Inc., Aberdeen, MD 32.4%

We called the contact number listed with the Secretary of State's office for the Louis D. Simmons American Legion Post 215 but got no response. We physically went to the building and knocked on the door but no one answered.

We were able to contact the leader of the Gaffney Elks Lodge BPOE #1305, the other "Scrooge" from South Carolina on the list. Linda Simmons told us, "I would like to find out how he came up with these figures, where they came from and what we can do to get it corrected because what we give in Cherokee County is unbelievable." She says the lodge donated to The Humane Society, Meals on Wheels, and to an Alzheimer's charity, and paid expenses out of their own pockets.

The Scrooges and Angels list is updated each year. Hammond also gives tips on how to detect a phony charities. 

Don't give money if you receive a bill or invoice from a charity you haven't pledged to. You should also never give money to a charity if they are vague about what cause the money goes towards. 

"South Carolinians continue to be among the most generous people in the nation; however, we must guard against those who want take advantage of our generosity. I ask you to research charitable organizations before you give to make sure high percentages are going to the organization's program services," said Secretary Hammond.

You can check out a charity through the SC Secretary of State office's website.

You can also call 1-888-242-7484. There are also over 50 charities from the Upstate that are suspended currently, to see a full list chick here.

Clemson to Celebrate Military Appreciation Day Saturday

Clemson University celebrates Military Appreciation Day on Saturday as the Clemson football team plays host to The Citadel at noon. The university has a full slate of activities planned throughout the day in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the event. The game features the school’s first-ever Purple Out as fans are encouraged to wear purple in support of the military.

Bowman Field will open officially at 8 a.m., and will have the largest display of military vehicles in the 20-year history of Military Appreciation Day. The displays will include current military vehicles, vintage vehicles and several interactive displays.

The Pershing Rifles will have a 24-hour guard at the Scroll of Honor beginning at noon Friday. There will be a special flag change-out ceremony at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Scroll of Honor by the Pershing Rifles. There will be a tailgate with light refreshments for Clemson alumni who are in or were in the military at Fike Recreation Center beginning at 9:30 a.m. Distinguished visitors include Lt. Gen. John Mulholland, a Furman graduate and now deputy commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command; Maj. Gen. Jay Raymond, USAF, a Clemson graduate who is director of Strategic Plans and Policy at the U.S. Strategic Command; and Brig. Gen. Eddie Jackson, who also is a Clemson graduate and is commander of the South Atlantic Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Following a half-hour Tiger Band performance beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the amphitheater, the military parade will roll from the Holmes and McCabe residence halls. All veterans and current military personnel from both Clemson and The Citadel are invited to participate in the parade.

Celebrations continue at the game, with a scheduled flyover of six post-World War II vintage Warbirds at the conclusion of the National Anthem. Throughout the game, there will be numerous recognitions and ceremonies to honor military dignitaries, Wounded Warriors, Honor Flight and more.

Halftime plans include the Summerall Guard from The Citadel and a special ceremony as Clemson pays tribute to fallen soldiers from South Carolina and recognizes their family members. The Clemson Marching Band will pay tribute to all five branches of the military in its halftime show.

All veterans and current military personnel are invited to stand in the west end zone during the halftime ceremony. To participate, go to Portal X in the WestZone with five minutes remaining in the second quarter.

County Council Votes to Appeal Preston Ruling

Anderson County Council Chairman Francis Crowder, saying it was one of the hardest decisions he had ever made, broke the tie vote as council approved a resolution to appeal Judge Roger Couch's rulings against the county in the case against former Anderson County Administrator Joey Preston.

The decision could open the doors for Preston to file new lawsuits against the county.

Anderson County Council Vice Chairman Cindy Wilson launched her argument for continuing the county's case against Preston, by attacking coverage in the media, singling out the Anderson Independent-Mail, and criticizing slow action by Judges Cordell Maddox and Roger Couch.

"This judge has been overturned in a number of other rulings," Wilson said.  "At least five local attorneys have encouraged us to continue an appeal. For those here tonight who say stop, have you done your math?"

Wilson said without an appeal, Couch would order the county to pay Preston legal costs, which she said could top $1 million. She added that not going forward with an appeal also "opens the floodgates for many more lawsuits by that crowd," that could cost $2-3 million over several years.

"Our prospects are excellent," Wilson said.

Wilson asked Rick Freemantle to play audio from the S.C. Supreme Court on his case from June 2012. At that time, The South Carolina Supreme Court ruled Freemantle had legal standing under the state’s Freedom of Information Act to proceed with his lawsuit against Anderson County and its former administrator, Joey Preston.

Wilson said that she anticipates the S.C. Supreme Court will rule favorably for the county on appeal. Wilson said the primary question is truth and justice and not saving a few dollars more by not going to appeal.

Anderson County Councilman Tom Allen disagreed, saying that after five years, multiple judges, a grand jury and other investigations, no illegalities had been found that Preston broke a law.

"Now we are grasping at straws by thinking that Judge Couch's words that there "may not have been a quorum" is enought to proceed," Allen said. "I don't believe the supreme court will overturn five years of litigation.

"This has been a very difficult decision for everyone," said Allen. "I have friends on both sides of this issue and regardless of how I vote I will be in trouble."

Allen also said the Daniel report did not find anything illegal and that the county did find anything illegal from a financial standpoint. Rumors did not turn up anything illegal, either, Allen said.

"I find it very unlikely the court will overturn the decision of a legally elected body," Allen said. "I did vote to send the case to Couch, because I thought it would put an end to the case. I was wrong."

Allen added that $150,000 of the contract was paid to the South Carolina Retirement Fund, and that money would not be returned, unless the county sued them as well.

In closing remarks Councilman Eddie Moore said you can't put a price on "justice."

Councilmembers Wilson, Moore, Dunn and Crowder voted to continue the case, while Allen, Floyd and Allen opposed the move.

Earlier, in a surprise move, Anderson County Councilwoman Gracie Floyd brought up a point of order at the beginning of the council meeting Tuesday night, asking that the resolution to reconsider Couch’s decision be considered out of order, and called for Council Vice Chair Cindy Wilson to recuse herself in the matter.

Floyd also passed out a copy of a letter she is sending to the South Carolina Ethics Committee charging that Judge Couch's rulings suggested that Wilson has a conflict of interest in the matter.

“I believe we are in violation of the judge’s order, we have voted twice, and still this is allowed to go on,” Floyd said.

Council reconvened with reccomendation to move ahead with the agenda, including the resolution, as printed.

Reaction was split, an even number of citizens commenting, one side calling on council to end the legal actions against Preston and decide not to appeal the case, and the other side calling on council to continue legal action. Many called for wisdom and prayers. Many comments reflected the idea of moving ahead.

"It’s time to end this legal action," said Ralph Driver. "Anderson County lost...Obey the court order now, end this waste of Anderson County taxpayers’ money once and for all.  It’s time to put this to bed and get back to work."

Some with velied threats of election consequences.

"if you do not vote to continue the appeal, we will work to get you off those seats," said Carolyn Byers, who asked council to continue legal action.

Seth Riddley, an Anderson native who recently returned to Anderson County after graduating Harvard University. Riddley said council was fighting Preston when he left for college and after being away for nearly five years, they are still embroiled in the same fight.

"I can’t believe this is what the Anderson County Council is still spending time and the taxpayers dollars on, millions of dollars, on this," Riddley said.

Several speakers, including Mark Powell, said the Anderson County Republic Party voted unanimously to ask council to continue the appeals process against Preston.

Before being shut down by Crowder, Floyd addressed those who favored continuing the Preston lawsuit.

"You lost," Floyd said. "You lost twice. What do you want to do now?"

After a testy exchange, Crowder called for a 10 minute break.

Returning from the break, Floyd said it is time to end the legal actions against Preston.

"Please realize that this has been going on for 13 years, this started out over Beaver dam, and some of the same folks involved are here tonight," Floyd said. "We have spent $4 million and you are telling me we don’t have the money to give employees a raise? We don’t have money for a bus service...for our roads?"

"If you’ve got common sense, it would dictate that if you are spending money and not getting money back and getting deeper in the hole, you would stop. The people I represent know what's going on here and they support me."

Also on Tuesday night, council approved:

• On third reading the Joint Anderson-Greenville industrial park ordinance.
• On second reading a new fee-in-lieu-of tax agreement with Plastic Omnium for an expansion of the business. The expansion will create 75 new jobs with an average pay of $16.50 per hour and a capital investment of 9.55 millon.
• On second reading, the rezoning 5.75 acres on S.C. 81.
• On second reading a lease agreement with the FAA at the Anderson Couinty airport.
• On first reading, a fee-in-lieu-of tax agreement with Project Rack. It is an expasion of an existing international company in Anderson County, which will add 125 jobs at $13 per hour and a $13 million in capital investment. The company is a textile company which has been in Anderson County for 20 years. They expanded nine years ago.
• On first reading a fee-in-lieu-of tax agreement for Project Opportunity. The company is an international company with 120 years of sucess, this expansion 45 jobs with payroll of $17 per hour and an $11 million investment.
• On first reading, development of joint industrial park with Greenville County.
• On first reading, development of a joint county industrial park with Abbeville County.
• On first reading a fee-in-lieu of tax for Project Choco, companies A and B. "This is a first for us," said Anderson County Economic Development Director Buriss Nelson  a very unique project, an incubator for intellectual property, franchised with a university, created 30 jobs with an average annual income of $74,000, additional jobs with annual income of $60,000. We are assisting them with property tax to a help with the purchase of facilty.
• On first reading a fee-in-lieu of for the expansion of Project Fluer, a company with 100 years of sucess in texile industry. They will expand by 25 jobs at $21.55 per hour, $10 million.

Council also heard a report from the Animal Welfare Committee, which proposed adding information to the current county animal control ordinance.

Story developing as meeting continues...

Floyd Files Letter with Ethics Commission on Wilson in Preston Case

Anderson County Council Councilwoman Gracie Floyd handed out this letter which she has submitted to the S.C. State Ethics Commission.

Councilwoman Gracie S. Floyd
1201 Ramona Drive
Belton, SC 29627

November 18, 2013

The Ethics Commission

Attn: Herbert R. Hayden, Jr. Executive Director

5000 Thurmond Mall, Suite 250

Columbia, SC 29201

RE: Conflict of Interest re: M. Cindy Wilson

Dear Mr. Hayden,

I am writing to you as a member of Anderson County Council. A majority of Anderson County Council (Ms. Wilson included) voted to authorize a lawsuit against the former County Administrator, Joey R. Preston relating to the serverance vote taken on November 18, 2008.

After 3 years of litigation, including a multi-day trial in front of the Honorable Roger Couch, the court found that during the vote regarding Mr. Preston’s serverance, Ms. Wilson (along with Mr. Waldrop) was voting under a conflict of interest.

Throughout the process, Ms. Wilson has continued to participate in the process and has failed to recuse herself, even after the verdict and the clear finding that she was voting under conflict of interest.

Since that request, the Circuit Court Judge has now re-affirmed his decision and, again, detailed M. Cindy Wilson’s conflict of interest in voting on matters involving Joey Preston. Despite this, Ms. Wilson has an item on the agenda for our Council Meeting on 11/19/2013 to vote to appeal the case against Joey Preston.

I believe that Ms. Wilson’s failure to recuse herself, despite the Court’s finding of her conflict of interest, constitutes a violation of the State Ethics and Accountability Act land the Anderson County Code.

Accordingly, in to request a formal investigation into the actions of Council member M. Cindy Wilson to determine if any violations have occurred.

I am enclosing those orders for your review. I can be reached at the above address or at 864-226-3491. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

The Honorable Gracie Floyd
Anderson County Council Member

Reed Road to Reopen Today after Water Main Break

Reed Road is scheduled to reopen later today after a water main malfunction late Sunday.

Fritz Weaver of the the South Carolina Department of Transportation said the city reported the schedule for the repairs early this morning.

Movie, TV Pilot Shoots Under Way in Upstate

Hollywood is coming to South Carolina. At least that's what local writers, directors and actors believe.

Production crews made their way through Oconee County, shooting a movie and a TV show pilot this fall.

Parts of movies or shows have been filmed in the Upstate in the past, but now, industry professionals expect to see a lot more, thanks to newly established incentives.

It's views like a sunset over Lake Keowee that South Carolina natives have always known, but now filmmakers aim to use the beauty of the Carolinas on a national stage.

Morningside, a Hollywood-style TV show pilot project about high society secrets and drama, was shot around the lake in October.

Associate Producer Bo Stegall is a Dacusville native. The now-Greenville-based hair stylist spent time in L.A., but now works with Morningside Producer/Director Debbie Kelley, who's originally from Easley.

"Obviously this is my home. I love South Carolina, but you have a different view which is going to be really appealing to a network. There's only so much you can do with a green screen and Malibu Beach," said Stegall.

Kelley said more than getting home to South Carolina, she decided to film in the Upstate this year after the state Legislature created a tax incentive package to draw in production crews.

She knows that if she hires a mostly South Carolinian cast and crew, she gets big time money back on the millions her production company, Orion Star, plans to sink into the state's economy.

George Corell is co-owner of Millie Lewis Model and Talent Agency in Greenville. He's seen the industry ramping up in this region and said it's finally time that South Carolina compete with its neighbors, Georgia and North Carolina.

Morningside is one of the first to tailor its production to the incentive deal's requirements. They hired actress Lindley Mayer. The show will even highlight Mayer's real life charity, which benefits Greenville's Children's Hospital.

"It's definitely different being on a set at home than being on a set in California. My mom is here. She helped decorate," explained Mayer.

Others, like independent film Elbow Grease, co-starring legendary Burt Reynolds, wanted to be here in the Upstate for its authenticity.

Co-producer Paul Papadeas grew up in North Carolina and went to film school there with Elbow Grease's Writer/Director Jason Shirley, who's from Anderson and now lives in Piedmont.

Shirley says he always planned on shooting the 1990s period-flick about a mid-life crisis in small-town America in Seneca. Shirley is the only South Carolinian onboard. He said the rest of the crew came straight from Hollywood.

Full Story at WHNS

Some Stores Choose to Remain Closed on Thanksgiving

With the recent discussion focused on companies opening even earlier this Thanksgiving, other national retailers are staying closed, insisting that the holiday should be spent with family.

"Our employees work especially hard during the holiday season, and we simply believe that they deserve the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families," Paul Latham, Costco's vice president for membership and marketing, told The Huffington Post. "Nothing more complicated than that."

Wal-mart, Kmart, Target have all had to deal with negative press this past week regarding their holiday hours starting on Thanksgiving and there has even been talk of possible boycotts, but Costco and BJ's are getting praised for their decision to keep families together during the holidays.

"Maybe call me old-fashioned, but I feel that it's an easy decision to make [to stay closed on Thanksgiving]," Laura Sen, the CEO of BJs Wholesale Club, told The Huffington Post.

Sen added that they had tried staying open on Thanksgiving but that the customer response was just not there.

There have been numerous petitions online calling customers to boycott the stores opening on Thanksgiving, but the idea of missing out on the big sale could prove a greater concern than that of a family being together.

Follow us Get CP eNewsletter ››

"It's very tragic to me to see stores that [are] increasingly opening on the holiday, which is not only a stress to people who are planning on shopping, but also for the workers," wrote Nadja Gutowski, 47, who started an online petition in response to Kmart opening at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving. "We all want the sales, but can you just hold them until Friday?"

Kmart will open its doors at 6 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day and will stay open through Black Friday, giving shoppers 41 straight hours of continuous shopping.

The move to open early and stay open late comes after less-than-stellar consumer confidence reports ahead of the holiday shopping season. It was also in part due to a calendar quirk that will see this holiday season lose six shopping days, according to a recent report from Adobe Digital Marketing.

A survey released Monday, from financial consulting firm BDO, concluded that retailers expect a 2.5 percent increase in holiday sales at stores open at least a year, which is far more pessimistic than last year's predictions.

Krispy Kreme Moving Ahead to Build Anderson Location

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Coffee, home of the bright red "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign, is again moving ahead to build it's Anderson location on North Main Street near Besto.

The company has submitted a paving permit and had engineering aproved, and plans to soon submit a building permit to begin construction at the site, according to a source asking to remain anonymous.

Previous reports in the summer of 2012 indicated a 5,500 square-foot building would be built on the site and fresh, hot doughnuts will be available throughout the day for the first time in Anderson in decades. This year marks the 75th anniversary for the landmark Southern doughnut shop which was founded in Winston-Salem, N.C. in 1937.

The proposed opening for the shop is now Summer of 2014.

Haley to Move Forward on Education Plan in January

Gov. Nikki Haley says her plan to improve public education in South Carolina will go to lawmakers in January.

The governor made the comment Monday while in Charleston. She has been traveling around the state pushing for passage of an ethics reform bill.

Haley said her next priority after that is education improvements that are part of a plan that she has been working on for a year. The governor said she has been discussing the topic with lawmakers, educators and others across South Carolina.

She says her proposal will not be a one-year silver bullet.

Instead, she says it will provide a blueprint for improving public education over the next eight to 10 years.

Clemson Symphonic Band to Perform Nov. 25

The Clemson University Symphonic Band is closing out the fall semester with a performance at 8 p.m. Nov. 25 at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts.

Conducted by Mark Spede, the program features a wide array of genres. The evening begins with the Celtic-tinged “Kirkpatrick Fanfare,” a piece by American composer Andrew Boysen. Next, guest conductor Timothy Hurlburt continues the journey to the Emerald Isle with an early 20th century piece by Percy Grainger titled “Irish Tune from County Derry.” The piece is a variation on “Londonderry Air,” more popularly know as the melody to “Danny Boy.”

Iconoclastic composer Charles Ives’ “Variations on ‘America,’” originally written for a July Fourth celebration. The first half of the concert ends with Gustav Holst’s First Suite in E-flat for Military Band, a classic of band literature.

The second half of the program is decidedly “out of this world.” It opens with Mason Bates’ “Mothership,” featuring Evan Jacoby on alto saxophone. A contemporary work, “Mothership” combines traditional instruments and modern electronic sounds, along with improvisation. “The Descending Blue,” by Daniel French, follows. The piece begins quietly with an eloquent oboe solo before building to a climatic fanfare.

The evening concludes with “Space Cat,” written by Clemson’s Spede for an animated film produced by Clemson’s Digital Production Arts studio. The band will perform the music as the film plays on a giant screen.

Admission is $5 for adults and free for students. Tickets are available online at www.clemson.edu/Brooks and through the Box Office at 864-656-7787 from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Rejection of Medcaid Expansion in S.C. Keeps Uninsured Numbers High

WASHINGTON — Initial enrollment figures for the Affordable Care Act show South Carolina and other Southern states that didn’t expand Medicaid eligibility aren’t reducing their population of uninsured residents as quickly as states that did.

Figures released by the administration show many Americans who shopped for insurance on the new online marketplaces wound up qualifying for Medicaid, especially in places that expanded the pool of people eligible for it.

For example, in Arkansas, 53 percent of people represented by applications completed on the federal online insurance marketplace — HealthCare.gov — between Oct. 1 and Nov. 2 were deemed eligible for either Medicaid or the state’s insurance plan for children.

In South Carolina, which did not expand Medicaid eligibility, only 15 percent of those people qualified for Medicaid.

That pattern held true for other Southern states.

Forty-four percent of people in West Virginia and 38 percent of people in Kentucky who shopped for insurance online — on HealthCare.gov in West Virginia and kynect in Kentucky — qualified for Medicaid. Both states expanded eligibility for the program. In Alabama and North Carolina, which did not expand Medicaid eligibility, the figures were 11 percent and 13 percent.

Those findings, while preliminary, illustrate how states’ decisions on whether to expand Medicaid are playing out.

The Affordable Care Act originally required states with meager Medicaid programs to expand them to cover anyone earning less than 138 percent of the poverty level, or about $27,000 for a family of three. But last year the U.S. Supreme Court made the expansion optional. South Carolina and 24 other states have declined to expand their programs.

It quickly became clear that not expanding Medicaid would create a coverage gap and that some people wouldn’t qualify either for Medicaid or for federal premium subsidies when buying private insurance policies on the marketplace.

That gap will affect an estimated 195,000 people in South Carolina.

Full Story Here